Winter Protection for Tender Roses

Tender Rose

Winter protection is a necessity for all tender roses.

Most hardy roses have the good sense to naturally enter dormancy as autumn approaches. Tender roses aren't that smart. You will need to take a few simple steps to adjust growing conditions to encourage dormancy.

  • Do not fertilize after August 15th.
  • Gradually reduce watering after mid-September.
  • Water well just before the ground freezes. In Saskatchewan, that's generally the end of October

After the ground freezes, trim the rose back to 1 foot above the soil level. Insulate by covering with a mulch like peat moss or pine bark peelings. Snow cover is also an excellent insulator.

Contrary to common belief, it's not the cold that kills tender roses, it's actually the freeze-thaw cycle. Insulating the roots will help maintain constant soil temperature.

In the spring, remove the mulch from the root zone after the native trees begin to bud out.

© 2006 Dutch Growers Garden Centre Ltd.